I just realized that I have seen the word 'separate' misspelled so often that I have begun to do it myself. Too much reading on the net. This must be an indication of the evolutionary process in language.

GS

I am feeling rather uneasy about the tone the Notebook has recently taken. It is always a good to read any fiction the members want to post, but I can't say I am fond of missives that are meant to decieve, annoy or befuddle, and have no apparent redemption in the content.

If someone wants to report an anecdote or register an opinion with the intention of practicing writing skills for the scrutiny of the group, there is a way to do it honestly, and the honorable intention will come across in the material. But some recent posts that have popped up here don't seem to support the notion that the NB is a place where we aim to uplift and enlighten.

It probably is just me, but I entirely missed the point of a post by the "Abused" wherein "shit" seems to be the root of nearly every noun, verb and adjective in one obscure message of dubious significance and authorship.

In the matter of alternate identities I have decided that if some of you want to post as alter egos and can maintain a consistency such as in the case of T.O.M., it really makes no difference as long as I continue to respond to each identity with the idea that they are seperate. Of course, I can no longer respond to T.O.M. in the same manner because I have been decieved, and can no longer have the same relationship.

For identities such as Jon, the cat, Pussy, Sasquatch, etc. these never seemed to me to be deceptive situations. Jon and Pussy are very open and easily connected to their author. They are no more than characters, like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

I know that I could withhold my protest, and in a short time this could all sort itself out. I know it is a mistake to attempt to direct any turn in the wind of the Notebook. I am not trying to do that. I am, however, voicing a preference, and that is that I can continue to see all of you as I have done in the past, through the voices for which you all accept responsibility. Even if you use them irresponsibly (and I especially like it when you do,) I enjoy knowing they are yours.

Anticipating that I might have upset anyone, for example the person who is T.O.M. I must say that I am not taking issue with any individaul in this matter. I am not angered by anyone. I am simply letting my preference be known. I know very well that you will do, in the end, what you will. I just hope you will all be clear on my viewpoint and consider it for input.

I must go now and change a light bulb. This ought to be good. Flourescent.

GS

thinkink??? Have you ever heard the likes?? I meant finkink. *tsk*

HI All,

DEAREST CHRISTI: I am sooooo glad you have returned from the nether regions of reality. "For she's a jolly good fellow, for she's blah blah blah and all the rest of it. And so say all of us."

I knew that HOWARD was a scorpio cos all scorpios are geniuses, genius', geni?.
Okay, I really knew that he was, you know, one of those coz....he told us. :-D

I thinkink you Mother has an email from me. For you of course. I hope I didn't put any rude bits in it.

AMERICO: Got the book back. It was in good condition. That's how most of my books look when I've finished reading them. It's all the travelling they do. To bed, to the bath, to the shops, anywhere I go in the car (a very good distraction for when it breaks down - and unfortunately that happens to my car - a lot.)

If you didn't feel like reading it at the time that was okay, I wasn't really in a hurry to get it back, I just wanted to know where it was, who it was with and if it was behaving itself.

Has anybody read ice station yet??? Oh really, you must. You have NO idea what you are missing.

And here's another happy hint. Take 2 pieces of bread, butter the outsides. Inside put a slice of danish salami, some jelapinos and a slice of tasty cheese, then place in the sandwich maker. Mmmmmmm Mmmmmm.
For pregnant women add icecream if so desired.

Seeya's.

Umm -- I think we have some contamination in the gene pool...

What I was gonna say (just before my machine froze up) is that perhaps I try some of this stuff...
But it probably wouldn't work anyway.
Orwouldit?

Late
------

Come on shit head, you're late again! Sit down!
...
Didn't do your homework again you peace of shit?!
...
What is that?! A note for one of your pathetic friends?! Standup and read it for the class!
...
That poem you wrote is the worst pathetic thing I ever layed eyes on! My shit makes me more inspired than that!
...
Ok class, you can go now. Not thou oh shitfull one! You stay AND...
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. "No mother."

MARK -- Nope, I don't do purple. And I haven't learned html yet -- I once tried to italicize a word and failed so miserably that it didn't even screw up the rest of the notebook! :-(
Nope, purple is not me cuppa, mate. And if I were to choose to appear as a character it wouldn't be a lowlife like the eighth 'enry. Now, Morpheus, perhaps... :-)
'oward

HEY YOU GUYS!

I haven't left. I am still here. Don't anyone mark me absent.

I am in the middle of something. I think they call it parenthood.

Debra

Hi - Rhoda enjoyed the chat, we will have to do that again sometime.

All the wonderful people who visit our little corner of the web. We should be honored, a king, his lovely headless wife, Ms. Ayre, and my all time favorite Rush. It has been great fun.

Well must go and write another short, may even post it if it comes out right. Don't you love it when a new story line appears in your head, and you have time to let grow until it can stay no longer, and must escape onto the page.


Write ON!
Jerry A.G. Ericsson

Rhoda - It's okay. I would have been on longer but I had to eat dinner. Maybe we can chat some other time. Do you have ICQ or AOL IM?
Allein

Bumber!!!

I missed Jerry too. That is 2 people who rapidly came and went. Be patient, folks. Surely you don't expect to have me gape at the empty chat screen until someone ventures in. I do check back every 3 to 5 minutes.

Allein,

I am sorry I missed you. I minimize the chat window while I am doing something else. Then I check back every few minutes.

Rhoda

In the chatroom.

Rush,

I do not like the sound of this new you. If that is what you are going to be like, I suppose I should just listen to Larry King.

How do we get pictures on here? Is there a way to upload jpg files onto the Notebook? If anyone knows, please tell.

Rhoda

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen.

I have read with great interest your comments on my presence here at the Writers Notebook. I get the impression that I should possibly tone down my comments slightly due to the presence of such a fine gathering of ladies.

Because of this, I have just returned from a gender awareness workshop. You will find from this day forward that I am a kinder and gentler Rush. I will say on more about the monthly visitors. No mention will be made of feminatzies. I will keep a civil tongue in my head when speaking of the happenings on the left coast.

When speaking of the Al'gore campaign, I will no longer mention the gore-basams that the press seems to be experiencing.

I hope this will satisfy those liberals in your midst.

Rush

Litter,

I looked over your story. Instead of leaving comments on the Workbook, I will e-mail them.

Heather,

I add my prayers for an end to cancer and AIDS.

Rhoda

Rachel - Thanks for the coffee. I'm awake now, however, I didn't get it in time and fell asleep in class. Actually, I lay my head down during break and the instructor woke me up right before she started class wondering if I was okay, because a few people had gone home sick already. I'm not sick - I hardly ever get sick. I should probably get my flu shot soon. I sent the card to the right address today.

Heather - I send my prayers and good thoughts to you and your friend and his family. *hugs*

I have good news, I went to the dentist yesterday and he says I don't have any cavities (I thought I did because a spot on one of my molars is REALLY sensitive), but part of my sealant has just come off exposing the weak enamel. It's prone to decay, but I'm getting new sealants put on Oct. 3rd so I'm not worried. School is going well too. Except that I keep counting teeth wrong because I count them on myself, but I keep forgetting that I don't have my wisdom teeth yet - only one is going to come in anyway and that'll be in about two years or so. It'll have to be removed once it comes through the jaw bone. Ouch. :( But at least dental assistants get great discounts and benefits when it comes to dental work, however when they're working on you, it's scary because you know exactly what they're doing. I remember being interested when I was about 13 and getting a filling and a tooth pulled. I was given a Game Boy so I didn't get bored. I held it up and it looked like I was playing but actually, I was using the reflection to see what they were doing. I've always wanted to go into this profession. Many people don't understand what I find so facinating about dentistry, but neither do I entirely. It's better than going into medical and having to work with blood and vomit and piddle. ::I laugh at myself:: Piddle - now there's a technical term.
I should go - I'm going to go pester my high school friends and brag about how great college is.
*smiles and hugs*
Allein (I keep wanted to write Heather at the end of my messages, but that would probably confuse people huh?)

CHRISTI and HEATHER (alphabetic, that) -- Henry Rex is not my doing. Though someone with a sense of humor put it out there. Such flurid nonsense penned in purple prose.
uh purple
purple
ay PURPLE I Say
WHEW
Yes, you goose I can do HTML. But I left a set of instructions out there on how to do italic and bold. Hmmm, someone else has read the book. I had to look up how to do color just to send this one.

The clue is in the purple prose. I might suspect Howard of such clever use of hints, but the real BIG hint for me was in the Henry/Anne dialog. If that's not Americo, then it's someone doing Americo {much like someone did ***Hemingway***}.

Maybe it's

Santa! - I send you a big kiss and hug. I didn't really want plop in my sock.

Christi - The bump isn't losing any weight. It is growing just as it should (big smiles). The little unborn is doing well. Thanks for the birthday greetings. Loving thoughts for you (hugs too).

Allein - I am almost 18 weeks, give or take a couple of days. I'm due on February 26th. I will have another ultra-sound on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to seeing the little unborn again. The last time I saw a picture of the baby it was about the size of a grain of rice! I'll be sure to keep my eyes out for the card. Do you have my correct address? I'll drop you an e-note later and confirm it with you. I send you big hugs and a shot of Starbucks coffee, that should wake up anybody (grins)!

Morning!

Thanks Mary for the laugh! Jacks Amazing Technicolour Notebook indeed! I've outlawed HTML tags in my own posts. Learnt my lesson. But I needed a good laugh this morning.

Lankylurkr, I can't say much because I've never been there. But I wonder, do you want to write short stories or something longer? Perhaps if you commit to a short piece, where the plot can be less complex than a novel, it would suit your ideas.
Characters can be annoyingly insistent about creating their own actions. Have you tried stream of conciousness writing? Let the ideas out without any regard for grammar or punctuation, so that action and dialogue fly out, and see how many ideas take shape.

Jack, Many thoughts and prayers for you.

Christi, no hurry! Just curious what you think of it!

TTFN
T.J.

wow, you guys have been busy.

wish i had the guts to use colorful html tags in my posts here but i am afraid we would end up with "Jacks Amazing Technicolor Notebook". i am sure i would screw it up somehow and run colors clear down the page.

glad to see everyone having such a good time. back later.

Christi! So good to 'see' you!
How did you guess me to be Jane Eyre?

i won't say yeah or nay to that, however.

I thought Mark was Henry too, because of the html italics!
Ha ha, we have caught you purple-handed.

i can't remember what else i had (ill-prepared) to say, so i'll limp off now and leave the NB in peace

oh, yes!
Jack, blessings and many positive vibrations your way. May you rest easy and may your mother in law be well.

Allein, blessings continued your way for your grandfather!

I understand what it is to worry about the health of a loved one - a close friend (my best friend's brother, whom is also a good friend) has AIDS, and is very ill with Tuberculosis at the moment. his T-cell count was down to 10 not long ago. the norm should be between 1000 and 1200 for a healthy person. he was on the brink of death.
He has to take chemotherapy medication as well as tuberculosis medication to kill off what they can of the virus and TB. He takes 45 pills a day.
Pray for him, please!
He's very close to his sister and she is tottering on depression all the time. He himself isn't afraid to die, but he wishes to prolong his life and at least live pain-free, and as healthy as he can.

Let's pray for a cure - for HIV and cancer. It's about due time.

Heather

Tired...ever so tired. What time is it? 7:30 in the morning. Wow, there's a 7:30 in the morning now?! Must drink coffee....
Zzzzzz
Allein

Hello once again,

Still on the information hi-way, this time with a spatchula. anywho, Gariess, since I am new to this, I will take a wild guess and take your comment as a facetious comment. If not, well, I'll just make rude faces at you. To everybody else that responded, Thank you all. It's nice to know that people will listen.

doing a scoop flip,

lankylurkr

Everyone - My mom called tonight. My grandfather had a CAT scan earlier this evening. They will get the results tomorrow and if all is well, he will be able to go home. I'm glad he's better and my mom will come home on Sunday morning.

Rachel - How far along is your pregnancy? Expect a card in the mail soon! :)

Jack - I'm very sorry about your mother-in-law. My prayers and good thoughts are with you and your family.
*smiles*
Allein

Hiya! This may very well end up being the longest G-blammed post in the Notebook, but I had to start at the bottom, spending about an hour and a half with you lovely folks, and had to respond to the things that grabbed me no matter how outdated. So I won't be surprised if some of you read a post addressed to you and have no idea what it means! Anyway, my eyes are crossing from staring at the screen, so here goes.

Arik,
I always pictured you as a swinging bachelor for some reason. ;) Nice to see you, Daddy.

Tina,
Errr, Contact? What is this Contact you speak of, earthling? Har har. I'm sooo guilty because I've been reading a stack of science fiction anthologys from the library and have left Contact to be finished at a future date. Something about all those wonderful short stories just gets me going. I PROMISE I'll finish the book soon and send it on. ("Sure . . . , right," says Teekay, who's been waiting for me to get off my duff and mail her book back to her. I'm sending it Teekay, I really am, but I'm trying to figure out what other goodies to send with it.) I am enjoying Contact, but it's got quite a bit of mathematical gobbley-gook in it that's attempting to hinder my enjoyment. I'll just keep ignoring that pesky math and keep reading.

Allein,
My fingers are crossed for your grandfather. XOXOXO

Jerry,
I suspect that you did the right thing by not visiting your friend on his death-bed. My mother-in-law got very embarrassed when people visited her. She was a very strong woman and did not like being seen in that position, even by us who took care of her, really. The person who really needed your support was his spouse, and you did support her by taking the time to talk to her. You'd be surprised how many people don't want to have anything to do with you when they find out someone close to you is dying. I suppose it's thier own fear that keeps them away, but it does tend to hurt your feelings sometimes.

Howard,
I teared up reading about the family who is losing their mother. But I was glad that there is joy along with the pain; That's what I'm shooting for when I go.
Also, I see that you've posted more of your novel. I can't wait to read it, as I loved the first couple of chapters.

Mary,
Wonderful, what you said about hospice care and about people who are dying. Our local Hospice was so great. We absolutely couldn't have survived the ordeal without them. I'm so thankful that they were there to help lighten our load--they did indeed help Sandy to die with dignity. I never had to think about how important that was before, but now I feel like my world has opened up after seeing how brave a person can be when death approaches. It's the most important thing I've ever taken part in and I'll never ever forget it.

Ashling,
Hugs to you. You are much stronger than I.

Rachel,
Love to you and your sweet growing baby. You may be losing weight, but I'll bet a million dollars that he or she is not! You take care of yourself, y'hear?
And Happy Birthday!!!

Heather,
It must have been so hard for you to have experienced so much death at such a young age. I am so full of admiration for all of you who have come through all this pain and arrived at the places you are now.

Also, I loved your shortie! Made me giggle for a while.

Jon,
Your shortie was gorgeous. And please don't have sad eyes--not on my account. :)

Teekay,
GASP!!!! (Laughing my arse off) Your shortie belongs in the hall of fame--truly! Also, you know how much I love Count Dwacula. Here's a type O cocktail, just for you! And by the way, I DO think your story to be excellant! It was wonderfully written.
Okay, I really have to know. How did you know that Howard was a Scorpio?!

Mark,
I'm staying, I'm staying! Kiss kiss.

Tina,
Your poor kitty!

Jerry,
Oh my. My my. I have no words. Okay, one word: Ouch.

ada,
Welcome!

Saskie,
You should get a hold of some paper products and mail your poems to a publisher!

Gariess,
HI!
PS I am me. Just me.

Teekay/Shitstirrer,
Haaaah!!!!

T.O.M.,
I respect you even more than I did before. And at least you have ruled out the possibility that you could have been a woman, though I'd pretty much figured that out already.

Rhoda,
I liked your comment about the notebook being interactive fiction. I considered making up a name when I first came here, but liked the fact that so many here chose to use their real names. Made me feel courageous enough to use my own name and personality. But I do love all the alter-egos here as well. Best of both worlds, really.

Santa,
I am still extraordinarily angry at you for the packages you brought, so gaily wrapped that made me squeal with joy as I ripped off the ribbons, only to find socks and underwear that made my mom squeal with joy. Go blow.

Jane Eyre,
Hi Heather!

lankylurkr,
Hi! Maybe if you just got it out of your system, and went ahead and wrote a gruesome, nasty story you'd be able to delve into the nicer things. It worked for me, anyway.

Henry Rex,
Hello Mark! Who else uses HTML so fluidly, I ask?

Jack,
I send you strength. You're doing a special thing by taking care of your family like that. It's certainly not an easy thing.
Hugs and kisses to you and your wife.

A huge hello and hug for everyone I missed. And believe me, I really did miss you all so much these past weeks.

Biya,

Cross-eyed Christi

Yes, please let's do change the topic of our intellectual intercourse!
With brevity in mind, and a swift's song rushing through mine heart, nothing could be more sanctified to my sight now than the dashing hues of autumn's rising crown. Will not the warmth of hearths be like a summons, pulling us together, under one great cape, to breath anew our fervered dreams? For autumn does not signify a death, nor a dissipation of sustainment: but a coming of closeness, a delight in the strength of nature's fire. She sweeps long limbs of glorious embers over our vision: ev'ry place we rest, our eyes seems aglow.

Good morrow, to you, and pleasurable season!

--Jane Eyre, respectfully.

Rachel - I would never forget you. I was just in a rush. One of my elves needed help in the workshop. You're going to get plenty of fabulous presents this year and so will your children - you have such good little children.
Santa

I posted Chapter Three of THE RELUCTANT BARBARIAN in the Novel Workshop. I realize I am really behind with my reading there. Anyway, a couple of people asked to read about my heroine and here she is. Also three chapters and a synopsis makes up the average proposal and now you have it, all except the synopsis and I will post that a little later after I do some last minute cleaning on it.

Night, all

Rhoda

Hello everyone: My, what a diversity of voices to be sure. Just a reminder about why and what I had in mind when I created the Notebook. This is freedom hall. By this I mean it in the Heinlein sense, you can spit on the floor and call the dog a bastard. The main thing is that we feel free to share our wisdom, our concerns, our worries and wonders. No voice should be deterred, even conservative ones. This coming from probably one of the more liberal people I know. Or relatively so.

When I get home from work tonight I will try giving the Notebook an Archive. Things definitely have grown a bit and it is time.

On a personal note I have been experiencing a bit of sadness in my life. My mother-in-law, who lives with us and who is 92, has lost a great deal of mobility and in the course of dealing with that we discovered that she has cancer. My wife and I are still trying to come to terms with all of the changes. Your prayers, energies and other persuasions of whatever spiritual path you walk towards my mother in law would be appreciated.

Sometime soon I think it is time to do some diving again. There is something about being beneath the surface of the Ocean that clears the head and mind and spirit in no other way. Swimming along at about sixty feet with the sound of my own breath and the bubbles of my tank would likely be a relief. Take care everyone and glad to see that the Notebook is still an alive and growing place.

Greetings and Felicitations,

Garriess,
Please forgive me for using you as a 'lab rat'. It was as much my intention to use you that way as I'm sure it was for Eddie Murphy to go out among the general population in his fat suit to gain a perspective on people's reactions to a fat man. In other words, I meant no offense. I mearly used this personna to gain knowledge, not to confuse or humiliate anyone. If you knew me (face to face), you would know that I (or rather, my real self) is not at all vindictive and has only sincere intentions to all with whom he interacts.
By the way, were you to see the real me, you would see a slightly less than old old man. (but only slightly)

Again, to all of you, you creators of that which will persist in the human conciencness, I hold nothing but the utmost respect...regardless of what name you find associated with me.

Lankylurker,
The exiting bits are the most fun to write for everyone. It is when we learn to love the everyday that we fill in the spaces between.

Take care, my tutors. I Love You All.
T.O.M.

RHODA -- good luck with the closing. My youngest daughter and son-in-law were all set to close on their house this Friday, and move Saturday, when the buyer's inspector finally came in with his report (yesterday)demanding they fix (or address) several items, that will delay it at least a week, and maybe two. Meanwhile, they're closing on the house they're buying, and it's really causing them some extra stress.

ANNE and HENRY -- You're interesting, but you're a demonstration of just why we (enlightened) yanks have a problem with "the royals." So many abuses of (what you term) your God-given right to rule!. I think you need to engage a good marriage counselor, or get chummy with a happily married couple who can show you how it ought to be. Maybe Hill and Billary...

LITTER -- That's a long short story, but I liked it at first reading. Gotta read it again.

MARK -- Hemingway is a tough act to follow. Anywhere. Especially in front of the unwashed. But you did it. On a Thursday afternoon. In the sun.

howard (no *)

I do have one suggestion for Lankylurkr. You seem to have the natural requisites for a Hollywood script writer. Mindless violence and no plot.

To the man who would be Limbaugh. You are tempting a massive assault upon yourself if you continue to post these missives. I ask you to consider how many women post here. They don’t live together, but unless you want to become Limburger I suggest you stop being Limbaugh, they might just decide to ‘rush’ you. Haw Haw, I crack myself up.

Howard,

And I thought I was funny.

Wow, look at this stuff between Anne and Henry. I could believe these two are real. They sure sound convincing. I dare ask, are we amused?

GS


PS

The army must have known about this ‘tide’ thing for a long time. I remember women’s platoons back in the old days. I thought they were off limits for their own safety. Now, it seems that it might have been us they were protecting. I know this PMS business is taken seriously these days. Anyway, this whole topic is distasteful, and I wish we would find better things to yack about in the NB. Who’s with me?

Henry and Anne,

I think perhaps you should limit your marital squables to the musty halls of some old castle. The Notebook is not the best place for you guys to be rattling your chains.

Rush,

Dittos!!! I wish it were really you. Incidently I read both your books, and here you are quoting from them on the Notebook. If you were the real Rush you would have many new things to say and would not have to plagarize your own writing.

I have some material I wish to submit, one thing to a contest and the other to a publisher, but I cannot because I will soon have a new address and I hestitate to give out the new house address until we have closed on it. I have had a deal fall through just days prior to closing before. I hope that doesn't happen now, and I don't think it will, but one can never be too careful.

My nine year old son is sick with a flu bug of some sort. I suppose it is that time of the year again.

I hope everyone is enjoying fall. We actually had some cold fronts come in and the temperature is quite fallish right now. I have not had to run the air conditioner for two days.

It is so confusing with all these alter egos around. I suppose I should suggest we all go back to being our old stoggy selves, but I will not. It is good to see people being creative and having fun.

Must go and fix supper.

Happy writing, kids.

Rhoda

E'en majesty must earn respect, and that also in the bedchamber, thou whimpering wretch! I might have honored your standard, had you the staff to fly it from! "When we would take her to us" indeed! Hares and hounds and games of chance held your interest more; 'tis no wonder I was tempted more than once. Please note that I said "Tempted," for I'll never admit to more.
As for the "gutter" language - a mere affectation, to get your goat!
And speak no foul thing of our daughter. She proved more the man than her father!"

'Pon our honor, you, Anne, are an imposter, an imposter, we say, for we would never take to wife a woman so uncouth to use such gutter speech. Yea, my Nan was no true lady, but she spoke as a lady and a queen.

You mock us. You mock the majesty of England. We, who have been so maligned through history must innocently visit this message board and then be besieged by this barrage of lies. Yea, we gladly signed the degree to have my Nan go to the block. We were so hurt by her treachery and her treason and witchcraft, we would have sooner burned her at the stake... but we were merciful.

'Tis hard for you of these times to comprehend. We were well justified to put Nan to death. She bewitched us with her charm and her winning ways. When we would take her to us to enjoy her, she pulled away and protested her virtue and her innocense. We waited for her eight long years until she would at last succumb to our caresses. To our horror, the woman was not the virgin she had proclaimed herself to be. She had promised to bear us many sons, and all she could give us was dead sons and that runt of a daughter, Elizabeth. Yet, Elizabeth was not our child, but most like the bastard of that Sir Thomas Wyatt. Our Nan was unfaithful and made a cuckold of the king of England. She deserved to die. Nay, not once but several times over.

Causes us sorrow thus to think on it, even after all these centuries. We loved Nan like we loved no other woman. In our sorrow, we penned this song to express our royal disquiet.



Alas, my love, you do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously
For I have loved you ere so long
Delighting in your company

Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves my heart of gold
And who but my lady Greensleeves



Jane Eyre

You remind us so much of our dear third wife, also Jane. Perchance we might e-mail you, my lovlie, and present you our picture. It would do us honor to know you better. We could have interesting talks over this marvelous invention, the Internet.

Henry R, the eighth of that name

Yikes! so much talk of the much feared red tide... yes people, be afraid, be very afraid!!!!

Santa - You didn't have anything to say to me in your most recent post. Does this mean I'm now on your shit list? Ah well, I'm naughty from time to time and likely deserve a nice hunk of plop in my sock. Hugs for you anyway.

GS - Thanks for remembering me. What a sweetie!

Holy Cow! (should I have posted this as ***shortstop***?)
Those *** must somehow clobber the spelchecker!

But it probably is a good idea to use them if you're going to post under an alternym.

By the way -- did you know that the real name for the * is the "Nathan Hale?" That's right, kiddies -- it was none other than Nathan Hale who uttered those immortal words "I have but one * for my country!"

*h* (shudder)

Dear scribes of such the page I feel blest to be part thereof;

What be this 'ism' that you speak of? For these things I have not been priveledged to hear in the quarters that I reside, nor in the wilderness of walking over moor and glen.
Perhaps my beloved, Edward F. Rochester, shall know of what you refer.

A second point has ravaged my countenance and beguiled my head nonetheless: the sychronization of womens' monthly tide: (I daresay we are so bold of late!) 'tis completely true. I ask Howard if he should prefer those numbered cycles to take place apart, and plague him ev'ry week! Indoor plumbing facilities have greatly treated us: if you could see the shameful sod-shacks we had but to suffer in!

(Forgive of me my uncouth lips!)

I must go

Jane Eyre, respectfully.

Oh. Right. Me 'at was down over me shoulders! Sorry.

Mind wot I told ya now, stay clear of those bloody men!

yer ma

But Ma! It's right there under your arm!

liz

Everyone:

If anyone was really listening to Mr. Rush they would have read between the lines that he greatly respects the power of women. He just has a hard time puting that emotion into words.

I will take that as a compliment. The thing is if women were in power we probably wouldn't have physical wars. We would deal with our problems another way.

ALso, if you were to look up conservative in the dictionary, it means to keep with pre-existing conditions. It doesn't actually leave room for growth or new thoughts, now does it?

I thank you for that great compliment.

Debra

Good Morning Ladies and Gentelmen. I see the dump Rush campagin has reached this the very last bastion of free speach, the Writers Notebook. It is indeed a sad day when a person can be shouted down because of his views, conservative though they may be. Whoever attacked me so viciously must indeed be a liberal on the left coast.

I didn't see a thing sexest about my last post, or for that matter the post of Mr. Hammingway. The only problem I saw with that post was the fact that doe deer/elk/moose do not have "racks."

Yes it is a known fact that womens cycles do in fact syncronize when they live together for an extended period of time. It is my feeling that such an orginization could be named "The First Amazon Devision." I know I would be terrified of even driving through the post where they were taking training, for fear that it would fall on the week of their cycle. If we did form such orginizations, there should be 52 of them, so one batallion would be ready on any given week of the year. They could be rotated in combat weekly to insure an uninterupted massive assault.

Rush
Proven right 97.77% of the time (based on the lattest data)

'ey 'ank! Can I 'ave me bloody 'ead back now?

Forsooth, Rush Limbaugh, how We loath you with your tirades about free enterprise and self determination. If you had the knowledge with which you credit yourself, you would know that people are like lambs to be led by their loving and caring sovereign. You are a cancer in the body politic and We will root you out!

Henry R, the eighth of that name

I'll 'fess up to Hemingway. Hamingway startled me. I posted hem, went away for a bit, came back and saw haw. Huh? Took me a sec. Nice

Hemingway was an interesting exercise. I really wanted to impersonate him. His terse style which is both familiar and remarkably detailed gets exemplified in the first paragraph . . . "You know the stream (familiar) . . . rocks that turn white(detailed)." All of it in short sentences. I think I wrote that paragraph myself, don't know for sure. That kind of thing is always part of Hemingway imitation rituals and may have come from something he actually wrote.

After that setup, however, came some interesting problems.

• I knew a rosemary reaction was in the wings. A good Hemingway imitation would provoke the same emotions as the real guy did.
• Hemingway's men always hunted something, what would my man hunt? My first thought was that this could be "For Whom The Bell Tolls" and my man would hunt another man. I considered that this would provoke fewer people than hunting an animal. {grin} Then chose animal.
• Notice that the animal is unidentified. Moose, Deer, Elk? At this point that is really unimportant. Kind of like Alfred Hitchcock's statement that it doesn't matter what's in the briefcase, what counts is the chase. He called the stuff in the briefcase "the McGuffin," and sometimes decided on it after other details were worked out. Rosemary read my McGuffin as deer, at some point later I would have to answer that. At this point I wanted only the shooter's motivation.
  

Heather:

It was me. It's kind of sad that story is true.

As I said that I don't usually go for those kinds of rustic stories, but this one had me.

Thanks for remembering.

Debra

ROSEMARY -- I'm right here, just haven't had much to post. Or maybe I've been posting all along and nobody knew it was me.
Mr HAMINGWAY -- I heard that someone just bought your old writing desk, and in it they found an unopened telegram from an ammunition company. They opened it and it said "WAIT! STOP There has been a mistake in our shipping department. STOP That last box of shells wasn't blanks! STOP"
GARIESS -- Having a wife and four daughters (and only one bathroom) I can personally testify to the "Synchronization of the Curse" theory. It's real! It happened to me! Twelve times a year! To this very day I cringe on and around the 23rd of the month.
ALL -- Is sasquatch gone walkabout? Did he say that?

back on your heads
howard

GARIESS: Yes there have been studies that prove the monthly cycle thing.

The lab rat thing was a bit of sarcasm - forget it.

Have just finished this hilarious, laugh out loud book called 'RACHEL'S HOLIDAY' by Marian Keyes. If you're feeling down or if you're not, read it. Fantastic.

Seeya's.

Hello all, I happened to stumble across this site by accident tonight while peering over the firewall at some roadkill on the information highway. Lovely thought. I've been having the worst time trying to dislodge several ideas that have been fermenting in my mind. Mostly when I start to write something, it usually ends up with the character suffering a nasty, gruesome, senseless violent death. Normally that would be fine for a story, but it frightens me that these ideas flow so easily, while "normal" ideas (i.e. basic plot lines, ect.) do not. Does anybody have any suggestions, aside from staring at a piece of paper until beads of blood form on my head?

Thanks for listening,

Lankylurkr

Allein - Perhaps you think your parents told you this just so they didn't have to get you a pony, but it's true, I can't fit a pony in my sleigh, besides, as I recall, you got several My Little Ponies several years in a row. But you're a good kid anyway, expect a special gift this Christmas. Glad your Grandfather is doing okay. Can't wait to see you at the mall.

Jerry - If you're really really good for the rest of the year, I won't leave reindeer poop in your stocking. Besides, Rudolph has had constipation lately. Blitzen on the other hand, is constantly suffering from the runs, so if I hear you've done one more naughty thing....well, you get the point.

Jon - I look foreward to working with you this year. You will find a giant bag of kitty treats and toys under the tree on Christmas. You're a good cat.

Sweet dreams to all,
And to all a good night.
Santa

Hi everyone,
My mom sent another e-mail. She says that my grandfather had all of his tubes removed today and tomorrow they'll run more tests. If the tests are negative, he may go home on Friday. I guess I got my Christmas present early. Now, Santa, whatever happened to that pony I wanted?
I just got the new Little Mermaid movie. I've watched it about three times already. I also have this strange craving for sushi. :)
*smiles*
Allein

I missed Rachel. How could I? Hugs Rachel.

One more thing,

Teekay, that just sounds like what they actually do with lab rats. It doesn't sound like a game. Besides, why do I have to be somebody's lab rat? Why not let somebody else be a lab rat? I didn't think I would like this game. How about playing something else? Checkers? Old Maid?

GS

Well, folks, those are some very interesting impersonations.

Teekay,

I believe it is you, after all. I have another freind in Australia who supports your claim that it is sunny.

People,

If you look carefully at that second Hamingway thing, you will notice that it is just the same as the first thing with the He's changed to She's. Anyway, there was one good gag in the first part about the biggest rack, and after that it was pretty much a waste. Rosemary seems to have gotten a gag out of it, anyway. Cheer up Rosemary, The Rush Limbaugh piece is far less sexist.

The Limbaugh thing sounds so authentic I believe someone actually transcribed it from one of RL's broadcasts. I haven't listened to RL for a couple of years because he always made ME gag. I must ask, however, is there any actual study that shows women become synchronized in such matters if they live together? I find this very... what shall I say... apocryphal?

I am glad everyone is having a good time. Heather, Americo, Tina, Litter, Jerry, Allein, Debra, what a nice bunch of NBers. Hope I didn't miss anybody (I'll work on my marksmanship.)

GS

GARIESS: Lab rats. According to the rats it's not much of a fun game but, it's where said rats are put in certain situations and given certain stimuli just to see what they will do. Sort of like you being T.O.M's rat. Or Rachel's, or God know's who elses.

Yes, I'm really Teekay. I can see why you would doubt it.
From where I'm sitting Australia looks sunny.

Has anyone else noticed that HOWARD is missing? Did he say he was going somewhere and I missed it? I hope he is just working hard and not sick, or, maybe he turned into someone else?

I found Hemmingway's second rendition not only sexist but icky. My personal opinion is that someone will probably hear from the Hemmingway Estate lawyers.

Of course the thought of blowing the first deer to smithereens to have a trophy on wall was not much better.

The above two paragraphs are not comments on writing style or ability, just content.

Meanwhile, someone should hunt up HOWARD.
Rosemary

Santa - SAY IT AIN'T SO - pleeeeeze, I want something besides raindeer pop for xmas, SAY IT AIN'T SO!

Jerry

No, Americo! I have not fallen into any streams of late.
Certainly not with Hamingway!

And who is Bill?

He is but you, Americo! I knew.

Wow! I have stayed away from the notebook for a few days and look at the action, the personas; the stage has been set quite well!
And what will transpire, now?

tee hee!

Hemmingway, Hamingway, Eyre and Limbaugh. Sasquatch, T.O.M. and shitdisturber, Santa, and Jon and more!(Teekay, I knew that shitthrower or what was that name? -was you!)

Even Rachel has used another character to speak with here long ago! (by the way, Rachel, I do not mind at all that you don't want to contribute to the aliases on board. And I think it is great practice to use a character's voice to speak with - it really helps getting to know your characters for your work!:o)
With that in mind, I could prattle on as Hannah, or perhaps another of my little seeds.
I wrote 'Whisperings' in another voice entirely, and found that I was able to pull it off without worrying too much about an authentic voice. I was worried that my telling of the tale would seem contrived, but so far no one has said so, and if I read it, it doesn't sound that way to me.

I can't remember who asked, quite a while ago... (Debra, was it you?) someone asked if the story 'Whisperings' was based on a true story, and it is.
I embellished the story with names, and certain circumstance, but the basics are true. White Buffalo Woman indeed came as a Vision, and warned the tribes of the coming of the white man. She gave them Sacred Rites, but I don't know how much hope she gave, being that the whites surely would have over-run North America, no matter when or where they landed. The European sees open fields and meadows as opportunity to plow and fence off porions: the native sees the land as shared, between nature and themselves, and must be treated with respect - they did not plant in great squares, which depletes the soil, but rather here and there, in more natural clumps and strands. They did and do not take more than they need, either.
When the whites arrived, they were angry that the native people did not 'know how' to farm or use the land properly, when in fact, it was the white man who did not. You see, in England, and so forth where there is little land in comparison to the population, they 'needed' to plant food close together, and felt it was 'beneficial' to fence off property in order that no one intruded and that everyone was fed.
Here lies the problem in itself. The natives had/have such a better ideal for the Earth and each other than did the whites. Their principles could have been taken to heart and learned, instead of plowed over and rid.
But I digress painfully.

I didn't mean to fill your ears with pox, or your hearts with gloom!

Now, for the real business: who on earth posted what?
It's a good thing I noted long ago to put asterisks around aliases, so that we could figure out that they were only characters.

Welcome, all ye aliases!

And a good night to all.
An early one for me.

Heather (I have not disappeared long, have I?)

I have visited this site earlier than now, but can you guess my alias?

Hi People,

Very busy in my lucid hours. No time to catch up on the past weeks postings yet, so it is just Hi for now and hopefully I'll be back soonish.

Have left a short story on the s.t. workbook so comments will be welcomed.

ciao for now

Litter

Does my bum look big in this?

Yo all,

A lot of activity here lately! Maybe I should come up with another personality...just so I'll fit in. How about Lurch from the Addams Family?
Naw, all he ever says is "You rang?" and "Uhhhhh!"

Anyway, Heather and Hallie, you'll like to visit my new site. It's about the riddle.

No time to hang around too long,
Tata!
Jerry Lee

Hallee - Hi, it's nice to see you.

Santa - I send you hugs and big smiles!

Oh, I'm really enjoying this.

Welcome, welcome, Jane Eyre, Hemingway, Hamingway (yes, I noticed the difference between the first and the second posts) and R. Limbaugh III — sorry, I don't know this name, but he's equally great.

I must go to bed now.

Pussy has discovered that the suspense thriller is her genre. She did not know she was a writer, didn't even know she knew how to read. Another miracle of the notebook.

Incidentally, where's Heather? Not in Hamingway's stream, I hope.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Today I wanted to talk to just a little bit about the feminatzies. Now we all know that the woman's lib movement is dead. Dead that is except for a few militerstic types who keep the idea alive.

It is my contention that these feminatzies sould all be forced to live together for six months. Now we all know that if women live together their monthly visitors tend to become syncronized. Once this syncronization occures, we will enlist them into the United States Army, and put them on the front lines. Can you imagine the fear that will reach into the hearts of our enemies, when they realize that an entire batallion of women, all of whom are suffering from PMS are assaulting thier borders with loaded weapons in their hands, and an attitude that would put the fear of God in any man.

Thank you, in my next post, I will delve into the happenings on the left coast.

Rush Proven to be right 99.9% of the time.

Three knocks plus a false one. Is that you, Heather?

But how "alive and well"? My anxiety grows. Heather is gone. Notebook, stop breathing!

(Suspense thriller in progress).

Hi everyone! I'm just popping in to say hi. I wish I had time to catch up on the posts from the last few days, but there are so many, and I simply don't.

Hope all is well with everyone! I'm into chapter 3 of my next book - work is nuts - the fall at church is always the busiest time - and everything else on top of my family. (sigh)

Happy writing all! (My daughter is calling from the bathtub)

Hallee

She was in the stream. You know the stream. The one that runs below the cabin, out
back, with the rocks that turn white in dry summer.

Her rack was as big as I have seen. This was a prize. I hesitated just a moment,
watching her movements as she strode easily through the shallow water. She dipped her
head for a drink. I backed slowly around the cabin corner and inside for a trifle. "A
herd of males may want you soon, big girl, but you'll be the talk of the hill when I bang you on my wall."

The three o'clock sun favored my chances. Slanting the light into her eyes, I knew if she
looked my way she would see more shadow than detail. Quietly, before leaving the
cabin, I pulled my belt back, slid it around into place, and closed the belt. Outside,
around the corner again, I could see her still in the stream. Queen in her realm. This big
girl was simply at ease with all the world around.

Jane Eyre:

You're welcome. I hope to have lenghty conversations with you at some time in the future.


At this point, my twins have me on the run.


Debra

He was in the stream. You know the stream. The one that runs below the cabin, out back, with the rocks that turn white in dry summer.

His rack was as big as I have seen. This was a prize. I hesitated just a moment, watching his movements as he strode easily through the shallow water. He dipped his head for a drink. I backed slowly around the cabin corner and inside for the rifle. "A herd of females may want you soon, big fellow, but you'll be the talk of the hill when I hang you on my wall."

The three o'clock sun favored my chances. Slanting the light into his eyes, I knew if he looked my way he would see more shadow than detail. Quietly, before leaving the cabin, I pulled the bolt back, slid a round into place, and closed the bolt. Outside, around the corner again, I could see him still in the stream. King in his realm. This big fellow was simply at ease with all the world around.

O, Dear Deborah: I thank you for your gracious welcome.

What wonders have I uncovered in such short time coming since? I marvel at the promptness of reply!
A letter surely would be a fortnight in arrival; but who shall be left in wont with such prize as this set of keys and modem? Not I.

--Jane Eyre, respectfully

Jane Eyre:

What could I possibly add to that?

Welcome.


Debra

Dear Writers and Readers,
It is with profound pleasure and great import that you have become a discovery! It was quite by accident, as you might well postulate. To err is but a human trapping, but to have erred and find new wonders upon dusting oneself off, only to be bonded as if by spell and happenstance, is itself a miraculous thing. I wish not to advertise any presumptuous art I may have presumably adhered to: rather in so visiting this site recommended to me by fellow admirer, it shall yet be proven of worth. My sincerest regards and humblest mien presented forthrightly to you, blessed scribes of thus ingenius page.

--Jane Eyre

Tonight is not a night at all, but just an alter-ego of today seen from the other side of the earth.

Heather, still alive? Knock knock knock (Three times at midnight, if not).

Hello all!

Oh, my, how easy it would be to mess with everyone's minds just about now. :~0

What strikes me as odd, though, is that on the weekend I wrote a poem (odd enough right there since I rarely write poetry) and two short verses have similarities to what's going on here.

'Life viewed by the future
Ignores the past and sees the story
A written record of memories and actions
That never existed except
In the story tellers mind.'

'For the first time in good company
A soul knowing its power
Finds itself as one, without fiction,
Sees others in honesty not as they should be
Only as they are.'

They're a bit out of context, but it still caught me as echoes of the current conversation.

Allein, I'm glad to here it.

And now work calls out again. Have an excellent day (or virtual day for all you aliases)!

T.J.

Santa,

I do not wish to bother you with many questions. But how about giving Jerry (besides Rudolph's surprise) health, complete health, so that he jumps and dances and writes a shortstory about how good it is to be alive?

Could we give psychological presents too? I'd like to present Allein with a strong and healthy greatfather, Litter with a complete recovery from his RA so that he can enjoy the pleasure of being a successful writer soon, and Rhoda light to see the truth (okay, forget about Rhoda).

Jon

(the proud assistant cat to Santa Claus)

Oh, Santa, I'm so happy! To be your assistant cat and help you give the presents!

Hope there are no guns (even plastic ones), silly books for silly children, and other silly things silly parents ask you to give their intelligent children.

You come from heaven, don't you? If you need any help there, just ask me.

oh Gary, you are too much.

i must go

Teekay,

Just what is this game called lab rats? By the way, I trust that you are indeed Teekay, but just to be sure, what does Australia look like?

GS

I must say that I would not want to rain on anybody's fun. I just always thought that T.O.M. was T.O.M. I even emailed him on one occasion when I thought he was at risk. I had no idea I was speaking to an old man who might be a young woman. I don't recall any Jones but I don't think I ever read all the biographies. Besides, who can vouch for the biographies? I know mine is obsolete.

As far as Sasquatch goes, I see this as a thoroughly harmless and enjoyable impersonation (imbeastination?.)
No one is expected to believe that a furry, ape-like creature goes about in the forest toting a lap-top. Of course, for all I know, now, Sasquatch could be The Old Man, Rhoda, Americo, or even Tiger Woods in an ape suit.

I still like you all, even if you aren't who you are supposed to be. I know Debra is real because no one could make up going to Federal Hill for a tuna melt. A meat-ball sub, maybe.

I used to just ignore posts by people who seemed to appear out of no place and presented curious and often obscure agendas. After all, how can one really respond? Not that some of our good intentioned participants didn't try. I always held Rhoda and others in high regard for their hospitality toward people such as those. For myself I found it hard to get past my skepticism. That's one of the problems with skepticism. It can't be developed to a skill of any accuracy. It sweeps a wide path and still misses many real targets.

Rhoda has hit upon an excellent idea. We are overlooking a potential market: people who want to speak to fictional characters. This could be the dot com of the decade. We could make a fee system like those feeble pshycic phone scams. Only we wouldn't be scamming, we would deliver a legitimate service. I think there are people who would pay to talk to characters like Captain Ahab, or James Bond. We just have to come up with equally attractive characters. Well, those are details. I always do better when I leave the details to other people. You guys will come up with something.

i must go

GS

So, anyone up for a game of lab rats??? hee hee

Santa - I get a gift? I feel special. The last 3 years I've gotten snowman poop, raindeer poop and raindeer patties. I finally made the good list! :) Well, I have 3 more months to go, but I can stay good until then. I will visit you at the mall this year. :)

All - I just got an e-mail from my mom. She says that my grandfather is doing much better. He's been eating well and walking around a bit. They were able to drain more fluid and the doctors now think that he does not have cancer. I'm glad to get good news.
*smiles*
Allein

Jon - You may come along as my assistant cat and help hand out presents and when I visit malls around the world, you can give candy canes to all the good little children.

Jerry - I'm sorry, you are on my naughty list this year. Rudolph will leave a surprise in your stocking.
Santa Claus

Jon - I will not have it, you cannot have the presents. Santa, don't listen to the fat cat, you must agree to do your job. By the way, I want . . .

Jerry

Santa ! I was writing my night's post almost at the same time as you! Isn't this exciting?

I had an idea. How about if I do your job of giving the presents this year? You could rest for a while perhaps... I'm so sorry when I think of you walking on the snow.

Well, I'm afraid you'll have to accept. Otherwise I'll conquer --- what's tyhe country you come from?

Just a moment. Who has been using secret pseudonyms all these months after all? Not me! (No kidding).

A*, in his infinite boredom, asked me to tell you that he was Bill for the strict purpose of the alter-ego thing. And that he has never liked pseudonyms, though he will probably use one soon in the USA for professional reasons.

Who were you?

My love tonight goes only to one and a single person — Allein.

Ho Ho Ho! Yes Jon I am real! And since you believed in me and you've been such a good kitty this year, I'm leaving you an extra special present for you in your stocking. Rachel, Allein and Mary also get something special for believing in me.
Those who do not believe in me, get something else in their stocking. You're thinking of coal, no. There has been so many naughty people this year, that I've run out of coal and must now use Reindeer gifts. The elves find them fresh every morning in the stables. Perhaps when you find that in your stocking you will change your mind about me.
Merry Christmas to All!!!
Santa Claus

well, i have to chuckle. sorry everyone i am not sasquatch. i even hesitate to say that, because sasquatch's is the last post before mine.

as far as no caps: i think that comes from too much online chat. it is faster and lazier. no offense to anyone, it wasnt intended. if i dont put caps...i can type 128 words a minute with no errors. with caps...well, lets just say..much slower. i caught myself, when writing a post for this site, reverting back to my chat typing mode of no caps, and more than once, had to go back thru my post correcting all the missed caps and apostrophes (which i also omit for the sake of speed). one day, i didnt feel like going back and fixing it..so i didnt. that is the no caps story.

i must admit that i am flattered that some of you might even consider that i am sasquatch because he is indeed a wonderful creature. he can bring forth giggles and tears as quickly from me as gariess can..that is the only reason that i thought it was him. just a gut feeling. alas, gary has made perfectly clear his aversion to masquerades, so like i said before..most probably i am wrong.

i have thought that this was a pretty good exercise all in all. albeit confusing at times. and i hope that everyone continues to feel comfortable posting as whoever or whatever they want. more power to ya.

c-ya later

hello again i sasquatch am not mary person but i am proud to be thought so. it is not same for Yeti to be someone they are not but i sasquatch have learned this is a way to stay well in this place. there are those who speak here who have looked on sasquatch as i am. i too have wish to learn of other voice as The Old Man. i wish to speak with that person one day. i do not memory time when others were here but i have love for those in this place now. also for some that went away. i sasquatch must leave for now also to learn of other things but may be come back as well soon and not gone long from here i love it. i must go

Hello all. Am I someone else?

About alternate persona, the only one I have noticed particularly is Sasquach. I wondered if his aversion to capital letters might have been inherited from Mary. Earlier I wondered if there were psychological reasons for this aversion since it usually included personal names, but I also noticed she was not the only one that had it. If we are going to notice psychological problems, my spelling (and sarchastic humor) might come to the front.

JACK OR WHOEVER
At my monthly writers meeting last Saturday, I learned that the Southwest Writers Conference might be held here(San Antonio) next year. Has anyone else heard of this?? Of course, I have not gone to the major expendure of energy of checking their web site, but that would not be as much fun as having someone talking to me on the notebook.

Writing is fun (at least part of the time)
Rosemary

T.O.M.,

I have NEVER been offended by you, merely fascinated. You know how mysteries are. Everybody itches to solve them. No matter how gifted and imaginative you are in creating this persona, I have no doubt that there is much of your true self (whoever you are) in this persona, so I will accept you as T.O.M. just as I always have. For the moment I will resist the urge to further snoop....opps, sluth and will not serch the biographies looking for an individual with the last name of Jones. I do not want to destroy the mystique of T.O.M.

There is another good aspect to being an old man. For some reason older people engender trust, at least in me they do. Maybe that is because I have a good relationship with my father. Old men seem above the fray of things and above trivial day to day concerns. I suppose that is why they engender respect.


In a more philopsopical note, I think we should all realize that to some extent or another, we are all persona here, some of us more so than others. There are those here that only use a screen name or a pen name, and one only learns the real name by exchanging e-mail. Furthermore we all give away only those parts of ourselves that we feel comfortable revealing. This is the nature of the Internet, but it is also the nature of society in general. For instance, how many of our co-workers, fellow church members and next door neighbors really know us? And do we really know them?

I think as time goes on, our character or true personality shows through, but I honestly have to admit that some people keep a tighter lid on all that than others.

I still think sasquatch is Mary. Mary gives herself away by using no caps.

And what about T.O.W.?? Or should I say T.V.O.W.--that very old lady, Robi who is ninety years old and whose father is still living? She is very funny and interesting.

This Notebook is the closest thing technology has given us to interactive fiction. Here you speak your mind to fictional characters, and they answer back. Perhaps someone can turn that into some sort of moneymaking concept down the line.

Enough mental gynastics for now.

Rhoda

Greetings and Felicitations!

Alas, having read the posts concerning my "host" personality, I see that none have guessed correctly.
Would that I could be attached to the wonderfully talented people you have tried to associate with me.

____SCREECH!!!_____
CLUNK! CLUNK! RATTLE RATTLE! GRIND---BUMP!

That was the sound of me changing gears. I address you now as the "original" persona.
Reading the posts concerning this subject, I must say that I meant no offense to anyone. I created The Old Man as nothing more than a writing exercise. Please forgive me if I have upset any sensibilities.

Looking back, I remember my first creative writing teacher giving us an assignment that was very simple. She requested that we write a half page on "What I Would Like to Be When I Grow Up".
The other 10th-graders handed in the obvious Doctor, Lawyer, Fireman...whatever. She read aloud each one in turn.
When she got to my paper she hesitated for a long time. She seemed choked up, nearly ready to cry. And then she read it. "Mr. Jones (my real name) has answered this assignment in a fascinating way." she said. "He says that what he would most like to be is an old man."
The rest of the class giggled a bit and I could feel the eyes of all of them on the back of my neck.
As I was beginning to get mad at the teacher for having made me the center of attention, she went on. "He says here that he would like to be an old man because old men have respect, and that that is something he thinks he would like to feel." She hesitated before going on. "It seems that being respected would be a unique experience."
At that, she stopped, turned and sat down at her desk and began reading the next paper on the stack.

In the creation and use of The Old Man character, I have learned so much both about myself and the way people percieve me that I have actually begun to shed some of the self-awareness that has clung to me my entire life.
I thank you for your unwitting help in that.

I have also learned by comparison how people respond to my personal self. While not nearly as welcome as the old man, I have seen that I can carry on conversations with you and that you lend a measure of respect to even me.

I have learned a lot during this exercise. Not the least of which is that I can write a believeable character. I have interacted with most of you and have learned a great deal on the subject of character development and voice.

Thank you.

Take care,
T.O.M.

Garries - Hi you (smiles). Yah, i do see where the confusion comes in with the persona. That is why I am back to being me, me, wonderful me (GRIN). It is also a lot of hard work. I am certainly not Sasquatch. I love the posts by that person. They are one of the unknowns that I very much enjoy. I would never claim to be something with so much body hair! Not that there is anything wrong with a lot of body hair, i just wouldn't want it for myself. yah see I live in a house and I don't need to keep all warm and fuzzy. I have a nice coat (not made of fur) that I use to keep warm.

Heather - I'm not trying to spit all over this exercise. I hope I haven't left you feeling peeved.

Sasquatch - Between you and I, I am sure that you look very nice with all your hair and that if you were without it you would look very strange to all your Yetti kin.
Keep out of the trees you.

Rhoda, T.M. Spell?

I am quite sure you can remove T.M. from your list. We spoke a few times after her confrontation with Philip MacLaren. That was a few years ago. T.M will not return to the NB. She was a very interesting participant, none-the-less. T.M. is a very gifted and accomplished writer. She impressed me as too direct and strong-minded to be tempted by impersonation. All the same, I hesitate to rule out any of your other guesses.

GS

Gariess:

Wake up! Wake up!

What were you dreaming about? It sounded like a doosie.

You're sweating. For the love of Pete, are you all right?

Jepers crow!

Debra

Allein - I was not going to mention my birthday (grins). I can't believe you remembered. What a sweetheart you are. What would be a lovely gift, would be a new picture of you. It would be wild to see you with red hair. I think it must suit you very nicely. I also would like to get together. Dan and I are thinking of a trip to Seattle some time in October/November. If we can get that organized i would like to make a plan to meet up at that time. I don't want to say it will happen for sure, because nothing seems to be for sure these days (grins). Yikes! I can't get over how busy it is in this house. three kids in soccer, one in hockey, two in music lessons. Ahhhhhhhh, help me!!!!!! Did I mention that I am an assistant coach on a U13 boys soccer team. Not bad for a preggers gal who never played organized soccer herself (only disorganized soccer). Dang, I'm sure glad that I learn quick. I hope that things are looking up for you. Many, many hugs.

Yes Jon, there is a Santa Claus. There is no need to cry. The people who don't believe in him must be very naughty and not on his list. They just say they don't believe because they're pissed that he skips them on his Christmas run.

so many of us! i must go

Rachel,

I know you are a sweet person, and if you have used other voices, as you call it, I am sure you did so with good intentions. I believe that the suggestion to use alter egos as an exercise is also very well intentioned. I believe that came from Heather who surprises me because she is so straight forward and direct in her posts.

I am sorry if my objection has caused any upset in the NB. I don't intend to do that. As an example of the confusion that can happen, Mary claims she thought Sasquatch might be me. I can not imagine why, because I have no familiarity with the Northwest where 'S' is rumored to exist. My store of Yeti lore is probably the lowest among the people here, and yet the more I explain all this, the more you all are likely to believe that I am Sasquatch after all.

You see, when a person rises up to deny a claim, that person only feeds the fire of speculation. The better the refusal is constructed, the more convincingly he appears as charged. It might be better to just say that I am Sasquatch after all. That way only those who have posted as 'S' will know the truth. Notice that now I raise the question that more than one of us could be 'S'. Those of us who are not, and never have been Sasquatch will now suspect everyone else of being Sasquatch. How do you like that? (jumps up on table and starts to rave [now I insert stage directions so you will all think I am Allein]) YOU'RE ALL SASQUATCHES! DO YOU HEAR ME? YOU'RE ALL A BUNCH OF SASQUATCHES!!

GS?

Other possible identities for T.O.M.:

Bob Hanford--possibility remote

Bill Whitney--" "

Toby Buckell--" "

T. M. Spell--" "

And most likely one of all, Jai.

That is the best that I can come up with. I imagine I will want to kick myself when and if I ever find out the truth, because it has probably been staring me in the face all along. Other then the individuals I have mentioned, I have no idea.

Mary, you are sasquatch then? And Santa Claus does exist? Well, that is a relief. Though I am disappointed that sasquatch is not a real yeti, at least Mary and Allein have assured me that Santa Claus is indeed real. In my heart, I knew it all the time. Perhaps Mary is a real yeti, or could it be this lovely human being, Mary, is just a persona of sasqatch the yeti?

This is getting too confusing. If I keep racking my brain like this, I will wake up the next morning not sure who even I really am.

Come on, T.O.M. Time to come clean. Just one more little clue? Please? I bet you are just laughing your head off.

Rhoda

i think i remember someone saying to avoid confusion of who is 'new' and who is a ' personna', asterisks should be placed around personna names when you post. Had this happened...we would indeed know who was real and who was memorex(tm).

i have absolutely no grounds for this theory, but just between you and me..i have always thought that gary was sasquatch. i am probably wrong. more than likely wrong actually.

i agree with Allein on the Santa Claus thing..he is most definitely real..i have sat in his lap after all.

HOWARD: hope you find those sites useful...smiles.

probably everyone knows who i posted as before. she never said anything important really..just posted a few exercises.

hope you all enjoy your day. c-ya later.

Rachel - That's right, your birthday is coming up. ::devilish grin:: I'll have to get you a present of some sort. It's been almost one year since I've seen you. We should make plans to get together sometime.

Jon - Don't cry. Of course Santa Claus is real! He is a personification of the Chrismas Spirit, so he is real and anyone who says otherwise will have to answer to my attack dog! She'll drown you in drool and lick you to death! I love you Jon. ::tosses him a kitty treat::

Allein

Who said that Santa Claus is not real?
I'm deeply hurt in my innermost feelings and beliefs.

And I'm crying.
(Sob, sob, sob)

Garyss - THATS IT! It is just you and I the rest of the voices on the notebook are our alter-ego's.

Well maybe not.

Hope everyone is well.

Jerry

sasquatch:

Please do not ever admit that you are not who or what you say you are. I do not think I could stand it. It would be akin to the feeling I had when my brothers told me that Santa Claus was really mom and dad. You are a yeti, right?

T.O.M.,

You cannot be S.K.S. Perry because that guy was never old. Oh if you are, I will never forgive you coming here and putting your two cents in without anyone knowing it is you. I have missed S.K.S, and I will just cry if he has come here and thought he had to keep his identity a secret. I have also entertained the idea that you could be Philip MacLaurin (wishful thinking, I guess), but Philip is a straight-forward guy and I cannot picture him taking on a persona (then again I could be wrong. He is a writer and could get away if his life depended on it). But I think he just would not. Perhaps you are Goodweed? But I think not. You do not sound like Goodweed. Hmm... Intriging. I must think on this today.

I agree with Howard. This is too confusing. Who knows whom one is talking to?

Incidently, I did try being Rip Van Winkle for a few days, but could not find any fun in it. My conscience got the best of me, and I put Rip back to sleep for a few more decades. Now, there is my big admission. I will surely sleep better tonight .

Maybe we should set aside one day where no one gives his or her true name and then we guess the next day who was who. Wouldn't that be fun? It would be like a masquerade party.

Got to run!

Rhoda

Morning All!

Teekay, I'm glad you like your cotton wool bud. But me, a teacher of some kind? Not at all. I did spend three years at art school, where cotton wool buds were a daily staple. Among the things I gleaned from college was how to offer my opinion about other people's work. Visual art and writing are not far apart and I go about the process in the same way. 1) Break it down into small bits... sentences, paragraphs, scenes. 2) Identify what I like. 3) Identify what I don't like. 4) Analise these points as technical mistakes or stylistic intention. 5) Look at the whole work as a complete communication. Does it achieve it's goal? Did I understand the characters, setting, dialogue, action, plot, resolution? 6) Offer my thoughts and opinions in the spirit of honesty and with the intent to be helpful, not hurtful.

I don't, however, feel myself qualified in the slightest to give cotton wool buds about poetry. I know next to nothing about poetry from a technical side, don't even know the terminology.

Hmmm, I'm sure there's more to it. I can make everything complicated; it's one of my especial skills in life, to complicate things.

I'm gonna go now. The wind is blowing and my hubby and I are going to go fly a kite! (It's a really big one, for big kids like us)

T.J.

Good morning, everybody!

Heather, the NB became a bit confused with all these strange posts of late. We'd better revert to normal.

My prize goes to sasquatch, the best personification on the block.

Why is it that we, mortals, cannot do without our precious reality? Even virtual reality makes us feel a bit uncomfortable. That's stange. But it's a fact.

Jerry, sorry for your neighbour's demise. Glad you are feeling better with the new medication. This reminds me that we are all sending healing vibes to Litter and to all those who are not in their best health.

And kisses to all.

You guys know about all but one of the voices I use. I am not E.J. She is a real person. I have corresponded with her more than once. I guess she could be one of you, if she is then like I said, nice is nice and I don't really care. Maybe people found E.J. interesting because she wasn't afraid to be herself and state her views. She didn't just back down at the pack attack. I think she was a rare and interesting person. It is sad that you were not able to get to know her well enough to see that.

Teekay, the reason I say that nobody guesses, is because at the time when I was using other voices everybody was on and on about how they could tell it was this person or that person. We had a lot of those kinds of posts going around. Strange lurkers with no names, who left nice messages, then everyone would guess at who they were. Not unknown posters, or strange posters who come on and leave crap, nasty messages. I think that is pathetic. I would never be a party to anything like that.

As for my other voice that has been used on this notebook it has gone quiet and will remain quiet. It is really a lot of work to generate a persona and keep it interacive. I don't have the time between my writing, famliy, reading, etc, etc, etc.

Now I need to go. It is time to get the kiddies ready for school.

GARIESS -- I think you're right about all the personnae appearing in the notebook. How indeed will we know when someone is new, and not just a fragment of our collective imagination? Perhaps it's not such a good idea.

SASQUATCH -- "right on, baby?" Where have you been lurking?!?!?
By the way - I see what you mean about the "trees" but I think it would be very easy to draw the wrong conclusion from what you wrote. Is the word you're looking for "metaphor?" You used trees as a "metaphor" for the optical illusion caused by the sun's rays coming through the vapor in the air?

MARY -- Those sites look good too!

howard

Jerry, you might want to check this one out. :-)

( the link i mean )

hi

Gariess:

All I wanted was a Tuna Melt. I swear.

I don't know anything. I didn't hear anything. You've got to believe me. Please! please!

I'm to young to die.




Well I don't want to.


Truthfully, we never went back, ever.

It was like walking into one of those places you might see on deliverance. As soon as we walked in every one stopped and starred.


Debra as herself.

gary person i sasquatch think you are right on baby. i must go

Okay, now see what you've done. The NB is way too confusing, now. With all these people popping up declaring that they have been somebody else for two years, and now Rachel admits to being a ventriloquist. Have you people thought about this? What if somebody new comes along and everybody thinks the person is not real. How would that make us look? Pretty silly I would say.

I would rather have everyone keep being whoever they are. But then I am silly that way. And all you people who are somebody else, just stop being whoever you are not and go back to being who you were in the first place. Unless who you were in the first place is somebody else who you are not. Does anybody understand what I am saying? If so, you might try explaining it to me.

I think Jerry is really himself, though. Why would anyone pretend to have gas stolen? Besides, I think he really takes that pain medicine. He seems to know a lot about it.

If you are really Jerry, I hope you get well. Actually, even if you are not Jerry, I hope you get well.

Let's see how we all like it when we don't know who anybody is anymore.

Also, Debra is really herself, too. Too bad, because she is soon to be in the Witness Protection program. I can't think why anyone would go eavesdropping in a Federal Hill cafe unless they are just plain tired of living. What's next Debra? Are you going to South Boston to see if you can pick up some choice dope on Whitey Bulger? Have you seen all those bodies they are digging up in Southie and out in Quincy? I'll bet some of those people liked to listen too.

Just kidding, Debra.

Stay tuned.

GS

TINA: WOW!!! What a fantastic cotton wool bud!! Thank you sooo much but, I've gotta tell ya, I'm never gonna master that grammatical stuff. Whoosh! Right over the top of my head. The typo's I always spot 'em after I post 'em but, then it's too late. Thank you so much for spending the time and effort to do that. I really appreciate it.
Are you an english teacher/proffessor or something? Did I mispell professor. Yes I did.

Teekay's Mum: *sigh* No Mum, I didn't mean... I was just.... Oh never mind.

Teekay: Yes Dear?

***shitstirrer**** : They won't hear it from me. Mum's the word.

Teekay: Yeah. But don't tell anyone, okay?

****shitstirrer******: are you me?

Hi All,

HEATHER: Thanks heaps. Canned air hahahaha good one.

TINA: I shall check out that crit shortly. I hate that word, it sounds prickly and unwelcoming...and scarey. Maybe we should change it to....I don't know, something softer sounding. I know! How about a cotton wool bud. I left you a cotton wool bud in the cotton wool bud section. Doesn't have that same sense of dread about it. Thanks.

BILL: I do believe you are AMERICO impersonating JON who is doing an impersonation if PUSSY.

TOM: You are also AMERICO, for when he goes missing, so do you. And who else is quite so wise???

I think this impersonation stuff is a load of crappadoodie(there GARIESS how's that for articulate?) What's the point???

RACHEL: The reason nobody said anything is..why would they?? Why on earth would anybody suspect that it was you being another character? One would have to be pretty paranoid in that case.
Were you EJ by any chance. She sure sounds made up. And AMERICO found her interesting. Hmmmm here I go making enemies again.

If nobody guesses who this post is REALLY from then you've all got real big problems.
So childish. You'd think we had better things to do with our time.

Hi all - I'm not going to play the name game today (grins). I have posted in other voices more than once and nobody has ever guessed who I am. If they did, they never said anything about it.

In fact people thought my other voices were other people on the notebook. If I had others voices, well, other than the ones you all know about I would never tell. At least not today.

I used to wonder about who the secret posters are. some are easy to sort out. Others I think i know, but then you never really can be sure. What I decided is that I just don't care. If they are nice, they are nice. If they want their identity kept quiet for any reason, that is their business.

I know that if I'm posting under a different voice it is because I want to try out a character, or i want to see if I can write as a man, or I'm just feeling playful. I never intent to hurt anyone and I don't hide behind anything. If I have a bone to pick with somebody I don't dance around it.

I also do have different voices for my writing. That might sound a little strange, but it is the best way that I can explain it. I have a different mind set when I write different things.

Now I have to dash. It is birthday central at my house. We had a party on the weekend, another tonight and then another tomorrow! This weekend there will be more cake to eat. Yikes! I'm getting tired of looking at cake.

Jerry:

I'm glad I could help. You have helped me so much with your links. I really liked the last one. Keep them coming, if possible.

Gariess:

I think you already know too much about Federal Hill. I was in a cafe in Federal Hill and you could cut the tension with a knife. A few months later someone, was arrested there. He has one of those neat nicknames. He was also there that day.

I told my friend that we might know too much. She told me that she heard someone say......... and we left quickly.


Debra






Debra

I am definitely one of those people that will be writing all my life whether anyone publishes it or not. But it will be published.
Interested in being published in a small publication yourself? E-mail me for information about our Halloween magazine. We are always looking for new writers.
I've been writing since sixth grade (I've gotten better since then) and calcutlate that I wrote 200,000 thousand words in pencil before I got a hundred dollar dinosaur computer. Still, the dinosaur took me through my first book. I'm looking for publishers for my works now, and I am getting very serious about making writing a source of income.
Feel free to e-mail me if you have similar interests.

i sasquatch thank you for words of my poems but i think i did not a good work to make describing. the trees are not real trees but the golden things that look to hold up clouds before raining. very tall as some trees so i sasquatch made those words as to be like now i do not memory the word to describe what it is called in poems. there are many strange persons here. i must go.

A sad note, my next-door neighbors son died last night of a stroke, he was 34. Death comes so rapidly and unexpectedly. He was a fine young man and his future looked so bright.

Gas prices here in town are increasing so rapidly again that some are turning to theft. My wife filled her car the day before yesterday, yesterday it was empty again, only 13 miles on the odometer since the fill. I have ordered two locking gas caps for our two vehicles. They only cost 17 dollars each much less then a fill of gas. I never expected crime of this nature to visit us in such a small town, but I guess there are thieves every where.

I am trying to dream up a new persona, who knows I may or may not be successful.

Debra, I don't have a beginning to my shortie, but now that you mention it, it does sound like a good idea, maybe I will begin working on one tomorrow.

The new pain medication that my Dr. put me on, seems to be working, however it does leave me very sleepy at times. It is nice to have some relief from the pain, but I am uncertain if it is worth the drowseyness. The literature that came with the pills say that the sleepiness may go away when my body gets used to the new medication. I hope it does. It also seems to have a mood altering property, I have been rather down for the last few months, but I feel much better now, and my concentration seems to be improving.

Jerry

The three latest poets are not by me. But they were not written by those who never enter these competitions: those without imagination, without charm and without Heather's generosity. With such a straightforward language this post can only be by...

Americo, I suppose.

Wrong.

T.O.M

You are SKS Perry. I knew it on the very first second I read you. But I thought that I'd better not tell you anything so that you thought you were someone completely different.

Not Jon I think's post is by Allein, but could also be by A* — that chap is the devil.

Who am I?

In my opinion Bill's post was by Jessica. There is that warmth, that feminine quality which makes me believe it was written by a woman — an exceptional woman with a heart as big as British Columbia. But I may be wrong of course.

As for the other contribution (ben Jonson's) only A* could have spelt his own name wrongly.

Guess who I am?
(Not Jon)

Greetings and Felicitations one and all!

Yes I am in fact, but the deep-seated coidentity of one of your own. Granted, the culprit is little-known and even less popular, but sometimes throws in a phrase or two to annoy the rest.
We have occupied a bit of space here for nigh on two years. We continue as seperate entities and unless you find us out, we will continue on.

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to decieve." Bill (Shakespeare)

Heather,
This is a wonderful exercise. Although I have lived as a character in this place for a long time, none have questioned me about my origin for over a year. This gives us an opportunity to find out if you had all known my true identity and for how long.

Who am I?

T.O.M.

Oh, our dearest Ben. Protesting as always, kicking his own pants this time.

I'd better go and have some wine with my own character... what's his name? Never mind. What's in a name, after all?

Heather's contest is very good to exercise the art of developing characters, but who cares about characters? Who cares about writing in this boring world of Internet television? Anyway, a cookie for who guesses my true identity. Not Shakespeare.

That was me.

Heather,

My reference was to the piece in the workbook that is near Teekay’s Dwacula. I felt that your ‘verbal flow’ was, how shall I say? Very articulate, how dumb is that? If I can’t come up with something more articulate than articulate, I mustn’t be very articulate. Ignore that last. You write very nice sentences.

Teekay,

You are so cute. Kissy kissy.

I must remind Sasquatch to stay dry. For such a long time, old furry one, you have managed to remain elusive and avoid the confirmation of your existence. If you should get careless and let the scent of wet Sasquatch loose upon the air (really funky), only the feeblest and most decrepit bloodhound could mistake it. We will surely see you on the six o’clock news. Remember, habitat is shrinking all the time.

Debra,

That thing I saw floating washed ashore at Eastham. It turned out to be a piece of Montauk. They are towing it back tomorrow. We already have more of New York here than we want. Don’t be afraid to go outside. Just stay away from Federal Hill in the evening. In fact, stay away from Federal Hill any time. Bristol is nice this time of year. I might visit the Colt farm one day soon. I just heard that Cumberland has some of those nasty African virus mosquitos. Don’t get bitten. This is an example of very fragmented information dumped into one marginally cohesive paragraph.

I don’t think I wish to participate in the alter ego exercise. I have too much trouble with one ego. It often is more than I can handle. The only possible advantage I can see in it is that, if one’s alter ego becomes a problem one can simply end its existence. Still, any advantage seems that it would be offset by a disadvantage of equal or lesser value. That is if one’s coupon has not expired.

GS

PS

If the passive voice is so much trouble, why do we have one?
Or perhaps I should say, If we are so troubled by the passive voice, it should be gotten rid of. Like those prepositions that you end sentences in. And sentence fragments. And starting sentences with conjunctions. Who needs that?

Sacrifice my ego 'pon an altar? Never! 'Tis mine and all that flows from't as well! Neither will I lay what I've writ under the name of another. There's too many professors doing that already; just look at what that heap of dried out bones has been credited with already!
No, none of that for me!

Hello all!

Teekay, I left you a crit in the workbook.

Allein, lots of strong thoughts and prayers to you.

Laura, are you out there?

Sasquatch, enjoyed your poem. Thanks for sharing.

Rosemary, I've read the first three Harry Potter books, in three days. I love them. I'm very impressed by the writing. Yes it's for kids but Rowlings has an amasing knack for pulling you into the story! I'm also very impressed by the effect the books are having on kids who normally don't read much. My niece - who almost never reads - loves them all and is reading them for the second time. A true success!

Hallee, I'll do so, but not right now. Gotta go get ready for work.


Hhmmmm. An alter ego. Hhhmmmm.

T.J.

Teekay, here is what (little) I know of Feng Shui [sp]
..........

Round things invite more positive flow, including rounded furniture, placing furniture so that the movement (walking around and air flow) in the room flows in a circular manner. Sharp, angled things produce negative or intimidating energy. If you have a lot of squarish furniture or tight, narrow hallways, open them up by placing round shapes on the walls or tables (round mirrors, pictures, or round-based lamps or other objects) and minimize the total furniture overall.
(ie: don't keep your giant rectangular table in a tiny hallway and if you don't use it, remove it from the room...)

Plants: Any plant with round shaped leaves and reaches upwards or has a sort of stretching appearance (for large plants) will work well. Smaller plants that have cascading trails such as ivy or baby's tears for example, will work equally well. Pothos, Defenbachia and succulents that aren't jagged edged, and even heart-shaped leaves are fine too. The plants to stay away from in Feng Shui are ones with pointy knife-like leaves or spikes (Yukka trees, spider plants) because(again)of the shape. But, these are fine also (although not best) if they are placed either with round shaped leaf plants, or in a pattern that enhances the circular flow in a room. Banana leaves would be marvellous as indoor 'shade', but I am not a botanical wizard, nor do I have the space.

Entrances: These are important as the entrance to your home must be inviting in a positive way in order that positive opportunities, energies and people are welcomed. If you have a closed off entrance-way to your home, open it up with mirrors - if you come in and there is a wall right in front of you, put a mirror and plants there. (Even better, take that chainsaw you bought your brother for Christmas and make that entrance wall a window)
... This will guide the energy in, and invite financial gain as well. (Don't ask me how, I saw it on a show about Feng Shui.) At the very least you won't be staring at the wall when you walk in. Remember to place the mirror at eye level, and a larger, round shaped mirror is best.

There's more, but sheesh, I remembered more about it than I thought! Oh, one last note - in your home the key to finding positive balance is to ensure you have all four elements represented in as many rooms as possible. (Eg: candle light for fire, water (little table top fountain, drippy tap), earth (soil with plant life) and air (preferrably fresh, but canned works in a pinch). Add a mirror and some plants here and there and you will feel more refreshed, relaxed, and hopefully more cash in your pockets.

Look at me, now I'm a Feng Shui sponge.

Next project - is as Americo states!

Let's see... Can each of us post as an alter ego, without giving away who we are? If you can guess who posted which alter ego, prizes will be awarded! Hint: Remember to post as yourself every so often, just to throw us off the trail; remembering not to post two separate messages a minute apart!

Please note - to avoid any confusion if perchance a newbie drops in and we think they are but an alter ego, let us always remember to put ***'s in the upper portion of the first field!

Name: *****Bonnie Tyler****

Then we know it's an alter ego, yet won't know whose.
(Am I confusing enough already?)

Who will be the first to throw us a loop?

Heather (NOT an alter ego)

Okay, I have looked everywhere I can think of on the net and I cannot find this information, can anybody help?????
Here goes:
In feng shui what are the plants recommended to invite prosperity.
I know there are some but I'm blowed if I remember them. Pomegranite springs to mind but,.......

Gariess:



Gariess:

blub blub......*******what

did

You



say


bbb
bb


bbb
bllubbb
Debra

Hi All,

GAWIETH: Thankth tho much you little thweetie you. Kitheth and hugth to you. (Gee thith ith fun.)

HEATHER: I completely agree with you on the grammar thing, and it has nothing at all to do with laziness.

AMERICO: I had something enlightening to say but, I've forgottten what it was. Oh that's right, did you know that forgotten has only 2 t's not 3? That wasn't really it.

CHRISTI: Please hurry up and get back here. It's now Monday so that phone jack shouldn't be too far away.

To all I send wonderful thoughts and great big feeling warm and fuzzy all over feelings. Hope you get them. I've sent them air mail and I hope you receive them REAL soon.

Heather - Thank you for your kind words. You mean Cheerios aren't doughnut seeds?! (I may be a redhead now, but the blonde still shows through).
Allein

Teekay,

I did write a little thing on one of the blank pages of your book. As for the photo, I did not send any, but, after writing, I noticed a sort of drawing next to my name. I wonder if that's my profile seen by Jon's malicious eyes or his own muzzle seen by my hand. Tell us when you get the book.

The art of being two
Is the art of being too

It would be interesting if each notebooker invented an alter-ego. Could it be our next creative exercise, Heather?

It is quite possible the authorities may have to change the name of Rhode Island to 'Row Island'.

Allein, blessings to you and your loved ones. I pray for the best outcome for your grandfather. I also pray that he's not in any pain. Hang in there. Any time you want to talk, you've got my icq and full attention.

Why, Gariess, thank you for your compliment. What particular piece of writing (if any) are you referring to?
Just curious. Sometimes I have really off months/weeks/days/dreams, and it's always great to be able to find a boost. Thanks for the boost today!

Ahhh, Tim Horton, you are my saving grace on many occasions.
Coffee:
steaming,
teasing - caffeine kick
swirl of cream and little brown stick
to stir your full-bodied flavour
just a touch of sweet;
to warm my hands and palette
with the caress of
dark retreat.


(Yum!)

Odelay odelay odelay-heee-hooo!

(What ever possessed me to spin that off is out of reach at the moment - well, at least I have to reach across the desk. Coffee beckons...)

Q: What does a nimrod say when he/she looks into a box of Cheerios (tm)?

A: "Oh, look! Donut seeds!"


Litter - where are YOU???
Eddie! You've disappeared again!

Oh, goodness, grammar check in a word processor program has actually helped you, Lorraine? I find mine to be a waste of time. I also remind myself often that writers are allowed to break the rules. Might be just an excuse to leave the grammar texts on the shelf! I would rely on the text moreso than the grammar check personally, because I find that it so often corrects things but takes out any artistic grammar-twists, and those arty made-up verbs are nixed immediately. In reality, made-up verbs or adjectives can really add interest and spunk, so long as it's not overdone.

And that, folks, is my opinion.

Heather
(Grin, and bare it) I mean...


P.S. Sasquatch! I enjoyed your lovely poem. The clouds really do seem to sit on top of the trees when they are heavily-laden with moisture.

Teekay,
Quite amusing, the Count Dwacula story.

Heather,
I like the way you write.

Everybody else,
Keep on keeping on.

Debra,
I saw this thing floating by the other day. Somebody said it was Rhode Island. I don't want to frighten you, but have you been outside?

GS

Hi all,
This is just an update on my grandfather. He's not doing very well. Since he has pneumonia, fluid built up in his lungs and they've been able to drain most of it but not all of it. My mom is flying out to Denver to be with him tomorrow. I'm really sad. I knew this could be coming but I didn't expect it to come so soon. I just hope everything is okay. The only comfort I have is that if he does die, he's lived a good, long, fulfilling life as a very religious person. I can only pray though that he's okay.
I guess I should go now.
Bye,
Allein

I have not been able to keep up with the notebook on a regular basis due to busy schedule. I took a the time this evening however to look over the last few postings and I was glad I did. The site that deals with grammar is great and I know it will be of assitance to me in my writing. I usually spend I don't know how long going over the varied grammatical errors I catch in my writing. Of course the computer grammar check is a life saver. I have a myraid of books on writing and I use to spend hours at a time going over and over my sentence structures. I must say that the short time I've been writing, about 4 years, I have improved. There is still room for improvement and I'm trying. I know one day, I'll get something published, don't care if it's when I'm ninety!! Good to hear so many are in the same world as myself. Bye for now. Good luck to all.

Dearest AMERICO: Did you perchance happen to autograph the book?? I do hope so. I would hate to think it travelled so far and had naught to show for it.

Did you also include your own photo? Or is that asking a bit much?

You really didn't need to send it airmail but, thankyou. I'm relieved to hear that things are not so bad as I thought.

Ahh, I am back, now - as Queen Etherby. I didn't choose the name!

Princess Hailey and Prince Christian are enjoying their newly-sprouted wings and head-gear. (Hailey is sporting the Monarch butterfly wings and antennae I made for her last year, when she was the butterfly and her brother was a caterpillar... Christian is sporting the bumble bee wings and antennae from a toddler costume.)
I think they decided they were princess and prince of Faerie folk.

---***---

My novel is coming along slowly but surely, Americo!
I have had to re-do chapter 5, from scratch, though thankfully it was no longer than 17 pages. There is much to improve in chapters 3 and 4 as well, and a few minor points to alter in 1 and 2, but those will wait until I have finished either the entire novel, or at least this chapter.

Now, I am off to clean my house - disaster zones distract me too.

Heather

I'm glad that so many enjoyed the shortie short night.
It's part of what I enjoyed so much when I first started posting here.

Jerry, best of painlessness on your new medication!

Does anyone have any neat riddles? Jerry Lee - thanks for keeping an eye out for more Einsteinish riddles.

I can't think of any at the moment myself...

My kids are playing dress-up with all the old Halloween costumes, and some of the dress-up clothes from our 'tickle trunk'. I am distracted by my daughter who insists that I dress up also! Here goes...


The tiara is quite nice
Heather

Jerry:

Thank you for the site on Grammar. I will refer to it all the time.

Debra

Heather - Wanted to tell you that I thought the short thing was fun. I don't always jump into these things on the notebook, but this time I had a couple of minutes and was able to join in. Thanks for coming up with the idea.
Take care you,
Rachel

Jerry - I hope the new meds work out for you. It was nice to find you in chat. Most of the time when I look in there it is empty. I'll look forward to reading something on the lighter side. From our little chat yesterday it would seem that your life has been full of joys and adventures with family.
Take care you,
Rachel

If you need to brush up on your grammar, check out the site above, it has plenty of online exercises to get you back on the right track. I know most of you don't. But I can use it, and have been playing around with it for a few days.

Saw my Doctor yesterday, he put me on a new pain medication that seems to be working very well. He explained it as sort of an artificial morphine without the narcotic effects. I hope it continues. It is a relief to get away from the narcotic pills I have been on for the last five years, the druged feeling, sleepiness and lethargy seem to be leaving. Maybe I will be able to write something happy for Americo now.

Feeling much better now.

Jerry

Heather,

This post if for you!
How's your book going?
Very good job as taskmaker. The shortie day was a great success. You must organise other events like that one. But don't forget to fine those who did not contribute. They must write TWO shorties next time.

Seraphine — if you want to have an idea of how people spent their free time in XIXth century England the best is to read some good novels of the time. Thackeray's "Vanity Fair" is a must.

And I was so hoping that post was for me...

SOB SOB SOB WAAAAHHHH!


(wink wink)
Heather

Don't worry, Teekay. Your book is readable, just a little bit too browsed. Remember that it has already travelled around the world and read by twenty intelligent fingers (at